Shipping Terms

Act of God

Accidents’ of a nature beyond human control such as flood Lighting or hurricane considered as “Force Majeure”.

American Bureau of Shipping

American Classification society which has established rules and regulations for the classification of seagoing vessels and other equipments.

Banker Adjustment Factor

Abbreviation  B.A.F.

Adjustment applied to offset the effect of fluctuation in the cost of bankers.

Balespace

The balespace of a vessel is the capacity of cargo spaces under deck expresseBd in cubic metres or cubic feet.

Ballast

Materials, generally water, solely carried to improve the trim and the stability of the vessel.

Bare Boat Charter

A demise charter whereby charterer  has the right to place his own crew on board of the vessel.   

Bay

A vertical division of a vessel to Indicate the stowage places for container. The numbers run from stern to stern: odd numbers indicate 20 foot position, even numbers  a 40 foot.

Bay Plan

A plan which shows the location of all the containers on the vessel.

Berth

Loading and discharging position at a quay.

Bill of Lading

Abbreviation :  B/L

A document which evidences a contract of carriage by sea and the taking over or loading of the goods by the carrier, and by which the undertakes to deliver the goods against surrender of the document. A provision in the document that the goods are to be delivered to the order of a named person, or to order, or to bearer, constitutes such an undertaking.

The document has the following functions :

    1) A  receipt for goods, signed by a duly  authorized person on behalf of the carriers.

    2) A document of title to the goods described therein.

    3) Evidence of the terms and conditions of carriage agreed upon between the two parties.

Break Bulk

General cargo conventionally stowed as opposed to unitized, containerized and Roll –on Roll-off cargo. Synonym : Conventional cargo

Call

The visit of a vessel to a port.

Charter Party

A contract in which the ship owner agrees to place his vessel or a part of it at the disposal of merchant or shipper, the charterer, for the carriage of goods from  one port or ports to another port or ports for which he receives a freight per ton of cargo, or to let his vessel for a definite period or trip for which hire is paid.

Container Freight Station

Abbreviations : C.F.S.

A depot in which L.C.L. cargo is received for stuffing into containers or at which L.C.L. cargo is tripped and delivered to merchants. 

Contract of Affreightment ( C.O.A )

An agreement whereby the ship owner agrees to carry goods by water, or furnishes a vessel for the purpose of carrying goods by water, in return for a sum of money called freight. There are two forms : the charter party and the contract contained in the Bill of Lading.

Deadweight

Abbreviation : D.W.T.

The total weight of cargo, cargo equipment, bunkers, provision, water, stores and spare parts which a vessel can lift when loaded to her maximum draught as applicable under the circumstances. The deadweight is expressed in tons.

Draught / Draft

Depth of water necessary to float a ship.            

Estimated Time of Arrival : Abbreviation – E.T.A.

The expected date and time of arrival in a port.

Estimated Time of Departure : Abbreviation – E.T.D.

The expected date and time of departure of a vessel.

General  Average

International act or sacrifices which is carried out to prevent the total loss of a vessel. When a vessel is in danger of total loss, the master has the right to sacrifice property and / or to incur reasonable expenditure to  prevent the total loss. Measures taken for the sole benefit of any particular interest are not considered general average.